Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Brolis.
Hi Lisa, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Before embroidery, I earned a degree from Rutgers Business School and worked in corporate accounting. I’ve always been drawn to work that requires patience and attention to detail, so in many ways, embroidery wasn’t as different from accounting as it might seem. Both are built one small step at a time, with the details coming together to create the bigger picture.
During COVID, I was home with a newborn and my two young sons and needed a creative outlet. I picked up a beginner embroidery kit and found it rewarding. From there, I taught myself through books, YouTube videos, DIY kits, and plenty of trial and error.
I initially sold custom cross-stitch portraits before gradually transitioning to freehand embroidery. As my confidence grew, I became more interested in creating original pieces instead of recreating designs from kits.
Eventually, I was encouraged to apply as an Emerging Artist to the Manayunk Arts Festival in Philadelphia. People not only stopped to admire the work, but they purchased it, and many told me they had never seen embroidery presented this way before. I realized there was a much larger audience for what I was creating than I expected.
Today, EAO Craft Studio continues to grow one piece at a time, and I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes next. The name EAO comes from the first initials of my three boys, and it was my way of including them in something I’ve devoted so much time to.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
For me, the biggest challenge wasn’t learning the craft. It was learning to believe that my work was good enough to share with other people.
For a long time, I hesitated to call myself an artist or even a business owner. Because embroidery came naturally to me, I assumed what I was doing wasn’t all that special. I had a hard time seeing my work the way other people did.
The biggest shift came when I started selling my work at in-person shows. Being accepted into juried art shows was encouraging, but it wasn’t what changed my perspective. Over time, conversations with customers, purchases, and kind comments helped me realize that other people found beauty in what I was creating.
I still have moments where I question myself, but experience has made it easier to trust my instincts and my work. Confidence came gradually. It wasn’t one show or one accomplishment. It was the collection of conversations, customers, and experiences that slowly changed the way I saw my own work.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I create hand-embroidered jewelry and keepsakes inspired by nature, vintage design, and freehand artistry. My work includes necklaces, bookmarks, hand mirrors, pillboxes, jewelry boxes, DIY embroidery kits, and custom collections for weddings and special occasions. Embroidery has traditionally been displayed as framed artwork, but I prefer incorporating it into pieces that become part of everyday life or hold special memories.
Every piece begins with an idea rather than a pattern. The design develops one stitch at a time, and I rarely know exactly how it will look when I begin. Nature is my inspiration, but each piece is my own interpretation rather than an exact representation. Nature isn’t perfectly symmetrical, and I’ve come to appreciate that embroidery doesn’t have to be either.
I don’t think two people could ever create the exact same piece, even if they started with the same idea. Each person naturally brings a different perspective to the work, and that’s what makes every handmade piece unique.
Over time, I’ve developed a style and level of craftsmanship that meets the standards I’ve set for myself.
What matters most to you?
One of the most satisfying parts of creating is finishing a piece and seeing it come together. It’s the point where all of the small decisions along the way come together into a finished piece that feels complete.
I joke that I’d like to check someone’s credentials before they purchase one of my pieces, just to make sure it’ll be well cared for. There’s a little truth behind the joke. I hope each piece finds someone who appreciates the craftsmanship behind it and gives it a good home.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.eaocraftstudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eaocraftstudio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EAOCraftStudio
- LinkedIn: https://linktr.ee/EAOCraftStudio
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EAOCraftStudio
